History of Crowcombe Heathfield Station

A BRIEF HISTORY

31st March 1862	Official opening of the Station as part of the initial stage to Watchet, extended to Minehead some 3 years later. The Station had just one platform and the line was built to Brunel's Broad Gauge. The first Station Master was Mr Halliday, who lived in the Station Master's house, which is still in existence and named "Puff Cottage".
	From the outset the Station had neither electricity or gas, right up to the time of closure in 1971. The only lighting was by oil lamps.
1st August 1876	The Line was taken over by the Great Western Railway from the original owners The Bristol & Exeter and renamed the Minehead Branch.
28th - 30 October 1882	Over this weekend the track was converted to The Standard Gauge of 4' 8 1/2 "
1883	The down platform and waiting room were added. At the same time the up platform was extended from 250' to 300'.
1912	The goods siding, at the Minehead end of the station was extended to the bridge. This was to enable stone from W.G.King's quarry at Triscombe to be sent out by rail on a dedicated fleet of 5 plank 10 ton wagons. The company had a tarmac and concrete works adjacent to the Station Master's House, where now modern houses have been built. A 2' gauge railway was built to move stone around the site, and a small portion was retrieved and now forms part of the track exhibition on the station's down platform.
1934	Both platforms extended to their present lengths.
1950's	This view shows the station in 1950's. Note the signal box and down waiting room which have been replaced and on the up platform the goods office. Maybe this will be re-instated in the future?
2nd March 1964	A special train left Paddington for Minehead with "The Fab Four" on board The purpose of the trip was to film scenes from "A Hard Day's Night", and one scene was filmed at Crowcombe Heathfield Station
5th March 1967	The Signal Box was closed and the station became an unmanned halt the following day. The Station took on a totally derelict appearance with the only building left standing was the upside Booking Office and Waiting Room which was boarded up. All trains used the up line for both directions.
19th March 1970	After some rather dubious accounting figures, the Ministry of Transport sanctioned the closure of the line.
2nd January 1971	After problems getting replacement bus services the line closed to all rail traffic. The Postal Cover opposite is postmarked 2nd Jan 1971 from Minehead
Early 1970's	Mother nature takes over.


	THE PRESERVATION ERA
5th May 1971	Just 4 months after the closure of the line, the present West Somerset Railway was incorporated.
28th March 1976	Lord Montagu of Beaulieu re-opened the line from Minehead to Blue Anchor.
9th June 1979	The line is re-opened to Crowcombe Heathfield and Bishops Lydeard.

May 1994	After a good many years' work the passing loop at Crowcombe Heathfield is re- instated. This provides a very much needed passing place for the intensive service the WSR now operates.
1991	Station is renamed Crowcombe Heathfield from Crowcombe, as there had been complaints that the name was misleading as the village was some 2 miles distant.
1995	Station wins the First Class Award in the National Best Restored Competition.
8th April1996	The down platform waiting room was re-instated . It was based upon a similar Great Western Railway structure in Oxfordshire and was built by "Buildings Bespoke" of Hereford .
1997	All the railway scenes for the film "Land Girls" were made at the station. The film was released in 1998
	The film starred Anna McCormack, Rachel Weisz, and Anna Friel
May 2004	The original Victorian toilet was replaced and a further disabled toilet was built, the majority of the funds having been raised by the Station Group.
2007	The kitchen area was completely rebuilt , including new units to comply with modern hygiene standards. It was completed in time for the Autumn Steam Gala.
2008	The up waiting room was suffering from no foundations and lacked a damp course, resulting in the floor and joists being replaced. The wall panels had to be replaced which had suffered from the damp. Finally the electrics were completely replaced.
2009	The down waiting room was panelled out on the inside with T&G boards, and decorated by station staff

A BRIEF HISTORY

31st March 1862

From the outset the Station had neither electricity or gas, right up to the time of closure in 1971. The only lighting was by oil lamps.

1st August 1876

The Line was taken over by the Great Western Railway from the original owners The Bristol & Exeter and renamed the Minehead Branch.

28th - 30 October 1882

Over this weekend the track was converted to The Standard Gauge of 4' 8 1/2 "

1883

The down platform and waiting room were added. At the same time the up platform was extended from 250' to 300'.

1912

A 2' gauge railway was built to move stone around the site, and a small portion was retrieved and now forms part of the track exhibition on the station's down platform.

1934

Both platforms extended to their present lengths.

1950's

This view shows the station in 1950's. Note the signal box and down waiting room which have been replaced and on the up platform the goods office. Maybe this will be re-instated in the future?

2nd March 1964

A special train left Paddington for Minehead with "The Fab Four" on board

The purpose of the trip was to film scenes from "A Hard Day's Night", and one scene was filmed at Crowcombe Heathfield Station

5th March 1967

The Signal Box was closed and the station became an unmanned halt the following day.

The Station took on a totally derelict appearance with the only building left standing was the upside Booking Office and Waiting Room which was boarded up.

All trains used the up line for both directions.

19th March 1970

After some rather dubious accounting figures, the Ministry of Transport sanctioned the closure of the line.

2nd January 1971

After problems getting replacement bus services the line closed to all rail traffic.

Early 1970's

Mother nature takes over.

THE PRESERVATION ERA

5th May 1971

Just 4 months after the closure of the line, the present West Somerset Railway was incorporated.

28th March 1976

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu re-opened the line from Minehead to Blue Anchor.

9th June 1979

The line is re-opened to Crowcombe Heathfield and Bishops Lydeard.

May 1994

After a good many years' work the passing loop at Crowcombe Heathfield is re- instated. This provides a very much needed passing place for the intensive service the WSR now operates.

1991

Station is renamed Crowcombe Heathfield from Crowcombe, as there had been complaints that the name was misleading as the village was some 2 miles distant.

1995

Station wins the First Class Award in the National Best Restored Competition.

8th April1996

The down platform waiting room was re-instated . It was based upon a similar Great Western Railway structure in Oxfordshire and was built by "Buildings Bespoke" of Hereford .

1997

All the railway scenes for the film

"Land Girls"

were made at the station.

The film was released in 1998

The film starred Anna McCormack, Rachel Weisz, and Anna Friel

May 2004

The original Victorian toilet was replaced and a further disabled toilet was built, the majority of the funds having been raised by the Station Group.

2007

The kitchen area was completely rebuilt , including new units to comply with modern hygiene standards. It was completed in time for the Autumn Steam Gala.

2008

The up waiting room was suffering from no foundations and lacked a damp course, resulting in the floor and joists being replaced. The wall panels had to be replaced which had suffered from the damp. Finally the electrics were completely replaced.

2009

The down waiting room was panelled out on the inside with T&G boards, and decorated by station staff